You start the tour in the Saxon Switzerland - which you can reach by train from Dresden Airport within one hour - and cycle two days through the winding green, woody mountains and the national park with its Sandstone Mountains, canyons and Table Mountains. You will tour the largest European mountain castle called Königstein. From the Bastei you will have breathtaking views of the Elbe Sandstone Mountains.

After two days you will see the palaces and vineyards in the Saxon Elblands. You will cycle through the river valley; will visit the Old Town of Pirna, the Baroque Garden Großsedlitz, the Pillnitz Palace and Park as well as Dresden - the historic, cultural city with its celebrated architectural and artistic treasures. In addition, you will visit Moritzburg, which is known for August the Strong's hunting seat. The excursion ends in Meißen, famous for its porcelain manufacture, its moderate climate and unique vines. You will learn much about the history and culture of this region as well as the uniqueness of a varied landscape. Make your day dreams come true - look forward to dream days along the Elbe!

Arrival near Dresden

Your arrival will be in a little hotel in Krippen, district of the health resort Bad Schandau in Saxon Switzerland, on the left side of the Elbe River. The hotel is only five minutes away from the train station, so you can reach it comfortably by rapid transit railway from Dresden.

1st Day 34 km - 21 miles From Bad-Schandau to Hinterhermsdorf

After you have got the right bicycle you will be cycling on the right side of the river to the ferry. It will be crossing the Elbe and you will arrive at the largest European mountain fortress called Königstein using the Königstein Express - a fancy double decker bus - and a local line for transport. Here you will spend the morning. You will find more than 30 different buildings on the large plateau - attestors of former centuries.

In the afternoon you will be cycling through the health resort Bad Schandau while marvelling at its still keeling historic Kirnitzschtalbahn tramway built in 1898, passing several mills and restaurants through the wildly romantic rocky Kirnitzsch Valley.

In the late afternoon you will reach our hotel amidst the national park surrounded by meadows and forests. Those who wish may now have a massage in the beauty parlour of the house. But if you will still have enough time and power, you can make a trip to the old wood village with its farmhouses of a special architectural style or into the national park to the landing place on the Kirnitzsch river.

2nd Day 56 km - 35 miles From Hinterhermsdorf to Pirna. You will start relaxed after a night of heavenly silence amidst the nature. The tour today will be a bit more challenging, but you will be rewarded with beautiful views again and again.

To and fro through the highlands of the Saxon Switzerland you will pass the small town of Sebnitz, famous for its manufacturing of artificial flowers. You will reach the Hohnstein fortress around noon. From the look-out you will enjoy the view of the highlands with its bizarre rocks. You will visit the fortress and the torture cellar and can have lunch in the restaurant nearby.

After about 30 km on the twisty route you will reach the Bastei in the afternoon, with its world famous view of this unique climbing and hiking area of Europe. The stone bridge was eternalized by Caspar David Friedrich amongst others in the famous painting "The rocky gorge". You can also inspect the rocky Neurathen fortress, a fortress of natural stone, which was built by Bohemian knights in the middle of the 14th century. In the evening you will cycle downhill and then along the Elbe River to the little Saxon town of Pirna, where you will spend the night.

Those who wish may visit the historic city centre of Pirna in the morning, with its middle-class houses from the 16th and 17th century, which were built with their bays and figurines from homelike sandstone. After this you will be cycling along the Elbe River to the Großsedlitz Baroque Garden. Elector of Saxony and King of Poland August the Strong established this French-style gardening composition in 1719, which shortly after served heady parties.

You can have lunch at the Pillnitz castle with its beautiful parkways. In the afternoon you will pass the architecturally interesting steel bridge „Blue Miracle", before you will cycle into the town centre of Dresden, where our lodging will be located. You can use the evening for a stroll through the Old town.

4th Day 31 km - 19 miles From Dresden via Radebeul to Moritzburg. In the morning you can have a guided sightseeing tour of this town with its multitude of monumental renaissance, baroque and 19th century buildings.

Around noon you will change the river bank and will reach the famous cultural centre of Altkötzschenbroda with its wonderfully restored village centre. You can look for one of the numerous beer gardens or pavement restaurants to have lunch.

In the afternoon you will pass the viticultural town Radebeul, also famous for his author Karl May. Then you will be cycling along the Lößnitz River Bed with its third oldest narrow-gage railway of Germany until you will arrive in Moritzburg. You will have time to visit the hunting seat of August the Strong, the pheasant bawn and deer park and will sleep in a comfortable hotel in the area.

5th day 34 km - 21 miles From Moritzburg to Meißen

Crossing the forest you will be cycling back to the Elbe River and follow it till Meißen. You will have all the afternoon for a visit to the oldest porcelain manufactory of Europe and the beautiful Old town as well as the Albrechtsburg Castle. You can top off the evening and this nice week with a wine tasting and a fine dinner.

6th day Departure. You can arrive at every Saxon airport (for example Ryanair Airport Altenburg, Dresden, Leipzig) from the Meißen railway station within a short time.

Notes:
- 5 cycling days, 6 nights, 182 km - 113 miles
- Self led tours can be started in the evening (arrival) of every Sun, Mon.

Price Includes:
- Detailed description and maps (1:20.000)
- Additional information and tips for lunch and dinner
- A map with flyers of every town you will be visiting
(not advisable without luggage transfer).

If desired you can get one GPS for the group for € 30, against a bail of € 200.00, payable and refundable by PayPal.

Based in Germany, our company offers self-led cycling tours for English speaking cycling tourists from all over the world. The tours are provided in the most scenic areas of Germany like Bavaria, Rhine Valley, Moselle Valley, Saxon Switzerland or Elbe Valley. Biking in Germany – an adventure and not too difficult....